System and method for providing caching and pre-fetch of assets/media

Abstract

A system and method for routing and delivering pre-fetched assets/media, such as a digital image, is provided. The present invention is directed to a system that allows for two digital images to be pre-fetched or otherwise transferred concurrently from two separate source devices to virtually expand the bandwidth and increase the efficiency of the transfer. The system also allows image enhancements to be made in a distributed manner either by a source or destination device, or by both. The invention further provides a method of efficiently delivering multiple versions of a single image to a destination device. An asset ranking system is also provided that takes into consideration the frequency at which the digital image is accessed and the number of source devices that that the digital image is stored within.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method programmed for execution in a computing environment for improved distribution of digital images between different computing devices and a registration server, wherein the registration server is configured for providing user registration and authentication, storing user lists, asset lists and asset characteristics, and wherein the different computing devices are in communication with the registration server through a network, the method comprising:
 providing a first computing device including a memory, wherein a first digital image and a third digital image is stored in the memory of the first computing device; 
 providing a second computing device including a memory, wherein a second digital image is stored in the memory of the second computing device; 
 providing the ability to receive or generate an instruction to transfer the first and second images to the registration server; 
 determining that the first and second digital images are stored in the memory of the first computing device and the second computing device, respectively; 
 concurrently transferring the first digital image from the first computing device to the registration server and transferring the second digital image from the second computing device to the registration server; and 
 transferring the third digital image from the first computing device to the registration server after the first digital image is transferred to the registration server and while the second digital image is still being transferred to the registration server, 
 wherein when the first and second digital images are the same image, the method further including consolidating and synchronizing metadata related to the first and second digital images across each of the first computing device, the second computing device, and the registration server. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cataloging information relating to the first digital image and the second digital image in the registration server, wherein the catalogued information includes an identification of the location of the first and second digital images within the first and second computing devices, respectively. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein when the first and second digital images are the same image, the cataloguing includes generating a unique identifier that is utilized to associate metadata and/or cataloged information relating to the first and second digital images located on each of the first and second computing devices, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the third digital image is stored in a memory of more than one computing device; and 
 multiplexing the delivery of the third digital image from each of the more than one computing devices where the third digital image is stored. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the first digital image is stored in a memory of more than one computing device; and 
 comparing the bandwidth available between each of the computing devices that the first digital image is stored within and the registration server to thereby select an appropriate computing device from which the first digital image would be transferred to the registration server efficiently. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for enhancement of one of the first and second digital images; 
 determining if the requested enhancement should be applied at the registration server and/or the respective first or second computing device based on at least one of:
 bandwidth between the respective first or second computing device and the registration server, or 
 enhancement processing capabilities of the respective first or second computing device and the registration server; 
 
 transferring, in the case where the requested enhancement of the one of the first or second digital images will be applied at the registration server, the one of the first or second digital images to the registration server; and 
 applying the requested enhancement of the one of the first or second digital images at the registration server to provide an enhanced digital image, thereby minimizing the size and throughput of data representative of the one of the first or second digital images that is transferred and improving the delivery of the one of the first or second digital images to the registration server. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein in said determining step, the requested enhancement of the one of the first or second digital images is to be provided by both the registration server and the respective first or second computing device, the method comprising:
 allowing the respective first or second computing device to apply a first portion of the requested enhancement to the one of the first or second digital images to provide a first partially enhanced image; 
 receiving at the registration server the first partially enhanced image; 
 applying at the registration server a second portion of the requested enhancement to the first partially enhanced image to provide the requested enhanced digital image. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first digital image and the second digital image are the same image, wherein the requested enhancement is for both the first digital image and the second digital image, wherein in said determining step, the requested enhancement of the first and second digital images is to be provided by the first source computing device and the second source computing device, respectively, the method comprising:
 allowing the first computing device to apply a first portion of the requested enhancement to the first digital image to provide a first partially enhanced image; 
 allowing the second computing device to apply a second portion of the requested enhancement to the second digital image to provide a second partially enhanced image; 
 receiving at the registration server the first and second partially enhanced images; and 
 combining at the registration server the first and second partially enhanced images to provide the enhanced version of the digital image. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second partially enhanced images are concurrently transferred to the registration server. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 allowing the first and second digital images to be tagged using the first and second computing devices, respectively; 
 consolidating the associated metadata and/or cataloged information from the tagged first and second digital images; and 
 utilizing the consolidated metadata to generate an interest rating. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the consolidating of metadata is provided on the registration server, wherein the consolidated metadata is utilized to feed at least one of a search, ordering, product composition or advertising engines. 
     
     
       12. A system for providing improved distribution of digital images between different computing devices and a registration server, the system comprising:
 a first computing device including a memory, wherein a first digital image and a third digital image is stored in the memory of the first computing device; 
 a second computing device including a memory, wherein a second digital image is stored in the memory of the second computing device; and 
 the registration server including a memory, wherein the first and second computing devices are in communication with the registration server through a network, 
 wherein the registration server includes computer executable instructions stored in the memory of the registration server that are configured for providing user registration and authentication, storing user lists, asset lists and asset characteristics, 
 wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured to provide virtual bandwidth expansion for electronic transfer of the first and second digital images to the registration server, wherein the transfer of the first and second digital images to the registration server operates to provide concurrent delivery of the first and second digital images to the registration server, and wherein the third digital image is transferred from the first computing device to the registration server after the first digital image is transferred to the registration server and while the second digital image is still being transferred to the registration server, and 
 wherein when the first and second digital images are the same image, the computer executable instructions stored in the memory of the registration server are configured for consolidating and synchronizing metadata related to the first and second digital images across each of the first computing device, the second computing device, and the registration server. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:
 receiving a request for enhancement of one of the first and second digital images; 
 determining if the requested enhancement should be applied at the registration server and/or the respective first or second computing device based on at least one of:
 bandwidth between the respective first or second computing device and the registration server, or 
 enhancement processing capabilities of the respective first or second computing device and the registration server; 
 
 transferring, in the case where the requested enhancement of the one of the first and second digital images will be provided at the registration server, the one of the first and second digital images to the registration server; and 
 applying the requested enhancement of the one of the first and second digital images at the registration server to provide an enhanced digital image, thereby minimizing the size and throughput of data representative of the one of the first and second digital images that is transferred and improving the delivery of the one of the first and second digital images to the registration server. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 pre-fetching the tagged first and second digital images from the first and second computing devices, respectively, when the generated interest rating meets or exceeds a predetermined criteria; and 
 caching the tagged first and second digital images within the memory of the registration server thereby providing fast access to and distribution of the tagged first and second digital images. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein in said determining step, the requested enhancement of the one of the first and second digital images is to be provided by both the registration server and the respective first or second computing device, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:
 allowing the respective first or second computing device to apply a first portion of the requested enhancement to the one of the first and second digital images to provide a first partially enhanced image; 
 receiving at the registration server the first partially enhanced image; 
 applying at the registration server a second portion of the requested enhancement to the first partially enhanced image to provide the requested enhanced digital image. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first digital image and the second digital image are the same image, wherein the requested enhancement is for both the first digital image and the second digital image, wherein in said determining step, the requested enhancement of the first and second digital images is to be provided by the first computing device and the second computing device, respectively, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:
 allowing the first computing device to apply a first portion of the requested enhancement to the first digital image to provide a first partially enhanced image; 
 allowing the second computing device to apply a second portion of the requested enhancement to the second digital image to provide a second partially enhanced image; 
 receiving at the registration server the first and second partially enhanced images; and 
 combining at the registration server the first and second partially enhanced images to provide the enhanced version of the image. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second partially enhanced images are concurrently transferred to the registration server. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the second digital image is stored in a memory of more than one computing device; and 
 comparing the bandwidth available between each of the computing devices that the second digital image is stored within and the registration server to thereby select an appropriate computing device from which the second digital image would be transferred to the registration server efficiently.